Headlamp construction



May 24, v1932.

c. MICHEL 1,859,673

HEADLAMP CONS TRUCTION Filed Dec'. 21, 1929 f 2 sheets-sheet 1 i liza Ji May 24,1932- c. A. MICHEL. 1,859,673

HEADLAMP CONSTRUCTIONv Filed Dec. 21, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 df JZ J7 gwuentcw Patented May 24, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE l CLARENCE A. MICHEL, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, .ASSIGNOR T GUIDE LAMP CORPORATION,

OF ANDERSON, l:INDIANA, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE HEADLAMP CONSTRUCTION This invention relates to headlamps of the general type comm'onlyemployed on motor vehicles and the like andinore particularly to an improvement in headlamp door construction.

Headlamp housings ordinarily arepainted to match or harmonize with thek remainder of the car while the bezels or lens carrying rimsof the' doors are brightly plated for the 41b purpose of ornamentation and contrast.

There is somewhat of a tendency at the present time to cut down on the size of the bezel, which is usually formed from thin gauge sheet metal, to afford a slender and narrow r1li appearance, supposedly in the interest of. advanced and artistic design in balance or harmony with the general outline of the oar as a whole and also to reduce the surface area to be pla-ted thereby saving in manufac- 42o turing costs.' Y Y Due to the reduction in size certain difficulties are presented particularly inthat type of headlamp embodying a hook-on door wherein the door is hooked on a tang at the ati top and fastened as' by means of av screw at the bottom. Since the door is secured to the lamp casing only at the top and bottom there is a tendency, because of its narrow and Weak cross section, for the ring to warp away Y 3o from the bodyshoulder at'the sides resulting in an unsightlyfa'ppearance. To overcome troubles of this sort by the provision of an improved and sturdy door construction is 'A one of the primary objects of the present invention. v f l y To this end there is contemplated the employment of a reinforcing liner, which'may take the form of a split ring, preferably rolled from strip stock with angularly'related portions for increasing its inherent strength. and which may be assembled or nested within the conventional bezel "and'forcibly expanded into tight frictional contact -with the inner surface of the bezel subsequent to the plating operation to thereby. lend an increased'degree of rigidity and stiffness to the door to preclude distortion and warping. f

The invention will be better understood upon reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: t

Figure 1`is a side elevation of a lamp with the door shown in vertical cross section.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary plan view of the inside of the bezel at its lower or bottom' portion where the ends `of the split ring are iixedly anchored in place.

Figures 3 and 4 are sectional views taken on line 3-3 and line 4.-4 respectively of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a plan View corresponding to VFigure 2 but showing a'modified form of the invention.

Figures 6 and 7 are sectional views taken respectively on lines 6,--6 and 7-7 of Figure 5.

Figure 8 is a transverse section through a portion of the door illustrating a further modication and taken on line 8 8 of Figure 9. 1

Figure 9 is a section taken on line 9-9 of Figure 8.

- Figure 10is another plan View of an alternativeA form ofthe invention.

Figures 11 and 12 are sections taken respectively on lines 11-11 and 12-12 of F igure 10.

Figure 13 is a transverse section of a bezel and illustrates a still further modification. Figure 14 is a section taken on line 111-14 .of Figure 13.

Referring to the drawings the reference character `1 indicates a lamp housing having at its forward end a depressed portion 2 and an inturned annular flange 3. Within the housing isinclosed the lamp reflector' 4 having an outturned annular flange 5 held in contact with the housing flange 3 by means of the door and an interposed gasket 7. The door may comprise a circular ,lens 8 and an inwardly open channelled bezel or rim 9 holding the lens as by means of a series of spring clips 10. Within the channel 0f the bezel it is proposed to locate the reinforcing ring 12.

` The door may be secured in place as by means of a tongue 14 carried at the upper portion of the bezel for insertion within an opening in the adjacent portion of the casing 1 and by ascrew 15 projecting through an attachment lug 16 at the botom of the rim and vlili of the bezel.

having screw-threaded engagement with a lug 17 carried by the lamp casing.

rIhe reinforcing liner 12 is shown as comprising a central outwardly depressed portion 20 having parts 21 and 22 connected with inwardly depressed portions 23 and 24 Vrespectively, with an inturned marginal flange 25 on the portion 23 and an outturned marginal flange 26 at the opposite side of the ring. The angularly related portions 20-26 of the ring give itan irregular'shape in transverse section and serve to materially increase its inherent strength. For convenience and economy of manufacture the reinforcing ring is preferably rolled from strip stock cut to proper length and bent to circular form to afford a split ring.

In the assembly ofthe door, after the narrow section bezel, which may be stamped from thin gauge sheet metal, has been properly plated, the attachment lug 16 is first secured in place, and then the liner 12 isnested within 'the channel of the rim and forcibly expanded into tight engagement with the'inside IVith the liner held Vin expanded condition rivet holes are punched through its opposite ends and adjacentparts of the'bezel and rivets 27 inserted through the openings and peened over. Obviously, other fastening means may be made usel of, as for example, bolts and nuts, welds, or the like.' As shown infFigure 2 the split ends of the liner are anchored adj acent'the attachment lug 16 with parts of the depressed central portion 20-cutawayat 28 to clearthe lug. Y

If desired the arrangement shown in Figures 5, 6 and7 maybe used, wherein oneend of the stiffenerfor liner 30 isinterposed between `the attachment lug 31 and bezelf32 and secured by the same rivet 33 which -secures the attachment lug in place. fFrom thisi'ixed end an extension ortonguel34 may be projectedto overlap the .free end ofthe ring. In this case the attachment rivet 35 is extended through holes punched in the overlapping portions of the ring and the rim subsequent to expansion of the ring.

In Figures 8 and 9 one end of the split liner-38 is secured'between the attachment lug 39 and bezel Y4() by the vattachment 'rivet 41. A` plate 42 is shown interposed between the lug and fixed end of the liner and secured by the'same rivet 41. From the lplate '42 extends a lateral leg or finger 43 which as preformed contains abend or curve as indicated bythe dotted vvlines in Figure 9, with-its end attached to the free end of the liner as by means of the rivet 44. In the assembly of these parts the outwardly bowed 'linger 43 is flexed or deformed to substantially the full line position shown in Figure 9 to thereby expand the linerand/or hold .it in expanded condition.

According to the disclosure of Figures 10, 11 and 12 there may be employed a spreader device consisting of a channelled sheet metal plate 46 having oppositely disposed legs or arms 47, within the channel of which is located the attachment lug 48 secured by rivet 49 to the bezel 50. The ends of the arms 47 engage with the ends of the split ring 51, there beingshown for this purpose a pair of inwardly depressed tongues 52 in the ring beneath which the arms extend. The dotted linesin Figure 12 indicate the position of the 4to rbe secured by the rivet 58 to the bezel 59, f

is lprovided at the opposite sides with inwardly extending legs 6() that are reversely curved as at'61 'to receive and abut'the liner ends 56. When the liner `is first positioned within the bezel its ends 56 extend upwardly in the dotted line vposition of Figure 14 but the engagement therewith by the abutment elements 61 ofthe lug, as the lug is moved toward vthe ringfand riveted, causes the ring to be expanded into tight frictional contact with the bezel.

Thestructural form of the invention may vary widely,but inanyevent the use of the reinforcing liner held tightly against the bezelwill serveto materially stiffen the door, increase'itsperi'od of usefulness and insure a proper, tight and Aneat fit at all times.

-While the description l)has been more or less specific, it will be understood that such modifications'may be made as come within the scope of vappended claims.

, 1I claim:

1. YIn a lamp construction, a lamp casing, a separate sheet metal bezel having an inwardly opening channel, an attachment device for removably securing the bezel to the lamp casing, a reinforcing ring within the channel and means associated with the attachment device for forcibly expanding said ring into tight engagement with the bezel and for holding it in expanded condition.

2. .In a lamp construction, a lamp casing, a detachable door for the casing including a sheetmetal lens rim, a liner ring adapted to be expanded into snug Yengagement with the rim to strengthen'the same, and means including an attachment element between the door and casing, for holding the ring in its expanded condition.

3. In a lamp construction, a casing, a door for the casing including a lens rim, means to removably secure the door to the casing, a split liner ring adapted to be expanded into snug engagement With the rim to strengthen the same, means associated With said securing means to fix one end of the ring to the rim and a device engageable with the free end of the ring to spread the ends apart and hold the ring expanded.

4. In a. lamp construction, a casing, a removable door for the casing, including a lens rim, and attachment lug on the rim for securing the door to the casing, al split liner ring adapted to be expanded into snug engagement with the rim to strengthen the same, means to anchor said lug and one end of the ring to the rim, and a deformable element associated with said means and engaged with the free end of the ring, whereby its deformation spreads the ends apart and holds the ring expanded.

5. In a lamp construction, a casing, a removable door for the casing, including a lens rim, an attachment lug on the rim for securing the door to the casing, a split liner ring adapted to be expanded into snug engagement with the rim to strengthen the same, means to anchor said lug to the rim, and means associated with said lug for engagement with the ends of the ring to spread the same and expand the ring.

6. In a lamp construction, a casing, a removable door for the casing, including a lens rim, an attachment lug on the rim forsecuring the door to the casing, a split liner ring adapted to be expanded into snug engagement with the rim to strengthen the same, means to anchor said lug to the rim, and a deformable element associated with the lug for engagement with the ring to expand the same upon its deformation.

7. In a lamp construction, a casing, a removable door for the casing, including a lens rim, an attachment lug on the rim for securing the door to the casing, a split liner ring adapted to be expanded into snug engagement with the rim to strengthen the same, means to anchor said lug to the rim, and a spreader device secured by the lug anchoring means and provided With oppositely disposed feet for engagement with the ends of the ring to spread the same apart.

8. In a lamp construction, a casing, a removable door for the casing, including a lens rim, an attachment lug on the rim for securing the door to the casing, a split liner ring adapted to be expanded into snug engagement with the rim to strengthen the same, means to anchor said lug to the rim, and abutment portions on the lug for engagement with the ends of the ring to hold the ring expanded.

9. In a lamp construction, a door including a lens rim, a split liner ring adapted to be expanded into snug engagement With the rim to strengthen the same and provided with upturned end portions, a spreader device engageable with said end portions to expand the ring and means to anchor the spreader to the rim.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature.

CLARENCE A. MICHEL. 

